Bane of the Bluegrass: A UK Anti-Dynasty

[Bryan Swartz]

JANUARY

1.4 vs. South Carolina(5-6) -- W 57-45. We started out 3-21 from the field, yet got 12 turnovers and 9-25 shooting from SC and this uglofest was tied at the half. Bliss(11 points on 2-10), did not reach double figures until the final minute, and was the only player to do so. Yet we win by a comfortable final score. This team makes me crazy sometimes.

1.7 @ Missouri(7-5) -- L 55-51. Another one that could have gone either way.

1.11 vs. Auburn(8-7) -- L 63-57. Auburn played nearly mistake-free and just waited for us to hang ourselves. 15 steals later, it's pretty clear we did just exactly that.

1.14 @ #6 Florida(11-4) -- L 74-58. It was close for almost a half with Kareem Green contributing 9 points on 4-4 fg off the bench, but the Gators closed the first stanza strong and ran away with it.

1.18 vs. LSU(9-6) -- W 84-64. An explosive game for us, Bliss leading the charge with 22 but it was a team effort(55% fg).

1.21 @ Georgia(11-6) -- L 62-55. We fell apart completely after Bliss fouled out with 15 minutes to go.

1.25 @ Mississippi State(11-6) -- L 75-54. Our hosts shoot 58% in a wire-to-wire shellacking.

1.28 vs. Mississippi(9-9) -- W 64-50. Close game until we pulled away midway through the second half. +13 at the line as Evans and Broadnax punished the Rebels with rebounding and physical play.

A 3-5 first half of the league schedule puts us at 8-11 on the year and in a six-way tie for last place in the extreme parity of the SEC this year.

[Bryan Swartz]

FEBRUARY

2.1 @ Arkansas(11-8) -- L 52-50. We handed them just enough extra possessions(23 turnovers to 11).

2.4 vs. Vanderbilt(11-10) -- L 59-45. Well-balanced ineptitude, with nobody scoring double figures for us.

Our one outstanding scholarship offer was agreed to, so we will have four new players incoming, one short of what we needed.

2.8 @ Texas A&M(8-13) -- L 59-46. A valiant if doomed game by J.R. Bliss(21 points) with KenKay Evans adding 12 and the rest of the team combining for 13 on 4-20 fg. It's been a great month so far!

2.11 vs. Tennessee(17-7) -- L 70-54. Our offense continues to not exist as the Volunteers led 16-1 after seven minutes in this one. Four straight defeats, our longest streak of the year so far.

2.15 vs. Alabama(14-9) -- W 69-56. We just had a good game on an off night for Bama, simple as that.

2.18 @ South Carolina(9-15) -- W 47-38. Two of the four teams tied for last with just three games left in the season, this was a crucial must-lose in the race for the SEC cellar. We were the least ugly of the two in the second half, sadly. As usual, it was the 'little things', turnovers and free throws.

Sixth man F Kareem Green got in a big argument with one our end-of-the-bench bigs, and they'll both miss the last week of the regular season now.

2.22 vs. Missouri(15-10) -- L 57-56. A late comeback led by J.R. Bliss(19 pts) came up just short.

2.25 @ Auburn(14-14) -- L 71-45. Quite possibly our most impressively horrid display of the year clinches my 100th loss as coach here on the final day of the regular season. Meanwhile, F Shannon Broadnax suffers a pulled groin mucle and will likely be limited for the SEC tournament, if he can go at all.

2-6 in the final month, a fine finish to put us 10-16(5-11) on the year, good for a 186 RPI.